Vassos Lyssarides

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Vassos Lyssarides is a Cypriot politician who has been a central figure in Cyprus politics since the island's independence.

President Jacob Zuma bestowed the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo to Vassos Lyssarides of Cyprus at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House, Pretoria. South Africa. 26/10/2012

He was born in 1920 in the village of Lefkara. He was educated at the Pancyprian Gymnasium and then studied medicine at the University of Athens. He became involved in politics early on in his life as a medical student in Athens, campaigning for Enosis (Union of Cyprus with Greece), and as a doctor he took an active part in the armed anticolonial struggle of EOKA for Enosis against the British (1955-1959). He participated in the London conference in 1959 for the establishment of Cyprus independence and, along with Tassos Papadopoulos, were they only ones to disagree with the Zurich-London Agreements. In 1960 he was elected member of the first parliament of the Cyprus Republic (as a candidate for the Patriotic Front)[1] and since then has been re-elected to all the consecutive parliaments.

In 1969, he founded EDEK, the first Socialist political party of Cyprus. He was repeatedly elected president of his party until the year 2002. In 2002, he assumed the title of Honorary President.

On 30 August 1974, an attempt was made against his life; during the attack, EDEK youth leader Doros Loizou was killed.[2] Lyssarides was elected and served as President of the House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991.
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